Bruce Springsteen’s ‘The Rising’ Turns 10

The most difficult challenge for a musician when writing topical songs is making them resonate beyond their run in the news cycle. The opening riff of Neil Young‘s ‘Ohio’ still brings chills more than 40 years after the Kent State shootings because of its urgency, but when was the last time you listened to Sting‘s first couple of solo records?

Bruce Springsteen‘s ‘The Rising,’ which was released 10 years ago today (July 30), has lost none of its power. With most of its material written in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, its best songs stand alongside his strongest narratives. He accomplishes this by sticking to what he’s best known for — stories of people whose worlds have been shaken as a result of the tragedy and searching for answers and redemption.

Themes of loss persist, most notably on the opener, ‘Lonesome Day’ and ‘You’re Missing.’ Springsteen wisely avoids putting them in the context of 9/11 so that they can be applied to any situation. But interspersed with powerful songs that are more specific to the attacks — ‘Into the Fire,’ ‘Empty Sky’ and ‘Nothing Man’ — they come across as part of the commentary on the events.

But that doesn’t mean it all works. ‘Let’s Be Friends (Skin to Skin)’ doesn’t fit in with the rest of the album. ‘Worlds Apart’s’ attempt to mix rock with Middle Eastern music is stilted, both as music and as a statement. ‘Paradise’ is a bit heavy-handed and ‘The Fuse’ is simply embarrassing. ‘Waiting on a Sunny Day’ polarizes fans, especially live, but at least, in the context of the album, it provides a little bit of relief while advancing its themes.

For most listeners, ‘The Rising”s main selling point wasn’t that it was billed as Springsteen’s comment on 9/11, but that he was recording with the full E Street Band for the first time since 1984′s ‘Born in the U.S.A.’ From the full-throated rock of ‘Further On (Up the Road)’ to the late Danny Federici’s gorgeous keyboard solo on ‘You’re Missing,’ we’re reminded of what a formidable group of musicians this is. The reunion brought Steven Van Zandt back into the fold with Nils Lofgren, who replaced him in 1984, giving the band a three-pronged guitar attack. It also introduced new member Soozie Tyrell on violin and background vocals.

Three of the songs, ‘My City of Ruins,’ ‘Waiting on a Sunny Day’ and the title track play important roles on Springsteen’s current tour (although the inclusion of “Sunny Day’ is a continuous source of consternation among die hard fans). That’s a testament to ‘The Rising’s’ continued ability to move an audience after 10 years. Check out Jack’s Throwback Concert on August 11, at Sunset Bay Beach Club to hear some classic Bruce Springsteen recreated before your very eyes.

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